WL-HDD sdram from 16 to 32MB

[b.sandman]

This mod will increase the built in memory from 16MB to 32MB, just to be able run more services on the router, etc. Beware, that this mod requires real strong soldering skills! And usual disclaimer: keep in mind that you do it on
your own risk, its very easy to brick the router completely.

What do you need to perform this mod?

ong soldering skills and some equipment
A TSOP86-II packaged SDRAM chip organized as 8Mx32. e.g. IS42S32800B-7TL

There is no easy way to get those chips (and perhaps not cheap), so search the web for the parts (e.g. farnell.com, etc.).

Doing it

Disassemble your router now and locate U1 sdram

http://wl500g.info/attachment.php?attachmentid=2976&stc=1&d=1210173136


I don’t have a appropriate tool to remove U1 sdram without destroying pads or traces on the board. So cutting the pins cautious off is just the way.

http://wl500g.info/attachment.php?attachmentid=2977&d=1210173143


Move the chip back and forth to bend the chip off the pins.

http://wl500g.info/attachment.php?attachmentid=2982&stc=1&d=1210173446


Remove the pins and clean the pads on the board with your solder. use some “no-clean flux” after that on the pads and coat it with tin.

http://wl500g.info/attachment.php?attachmentid=2981&stc=1&d=1210173521


Now place the chip carefully on the pads and soldering the pins to it. Check finally for shortcuts!!!

http://wl500g.info/attachment.php?attachmentid=2980&stc=1&d=1210173485



Now you have to let the router boot and do

nvram set sdram_init=0x0C19
nvram commit
reboot and you’re done with 32MB!

Cheers,
B.Sandman

[b.sandman]

Now you have to boot the router and do


nvram set sdram_init=0x0C19
nvram commit
reboot

and you’re done


PMON version 5.3.22 [EL], LSI LOGIC Corp. and Broadcom Corp.
Compiled on Thu Sep 23 15:53:24 2004
CPU type 4710.CPU clock frequency 125 MHz.Avail RAM 32768 KBytes.
NVRAM: MX29LV320T 2Mx16 TopB.
Visit www.carmel.com for updates.

~Rescue Flag disable.
Downloading os image in 3 seconds
Using specified MAC address.
et0: Broadcom BCM47xx 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Controller 3.11.19.0
rtl bug fix linkup!!
MAC Address: 00:11:c8:a7:eb:c7
Opened ethernet
Downloading from ethernet, ^C to abort
Downloading image time out
Boot os from the flash
CRC OK
Uncompressing....done
Doing command call 80001000
Linux version 2.6.19.7 (ax@tix) (gcc version 4.1.2) #1 Tue May 6 10:38:53 CEST 2008
CPU revision is: 00024000
registering PCI controller with io_map_base unset
registering PCI controller with io_map_base unset
Determined physical RAM map:
memory: 02000000 @ 00000000 (usable)
Initrd not found or empty - disabling initrd
Built 1 zonelists. Total pages: 8128
Kernel command line: root=/dev/mtdblock2 rootfstype=squashfs,jffs2 init=/etc/preinit noinitrd console=ttyS0,115200
Enabling BCM4710A0 cache workarounds.
Primary instruction cache 8kB, physically tagged, 2-way, linesize 16 bytes.
Primary data cache 4kB, 2-way, linesize 16 bytes.
Synthesized TLB refill handler (20 instructions).
Synthesized TLB load handler fastpath (31 instructions).
Synthesized TLB store handler fastpath (31 instructions).
Synthesized TLB modify handler fastpath (30 instructions).
PID hash table entries: 128 (order: 7, 512 bytes)
Using 62.400 MHz high precision timer.
Dentry cache hash table entries: 4096 (order: 2, 16384 bytes)
Inode-cache hash table entries: 2048 (order: 1, 8192 bytes)
Memory: 29972k/32768k available (1957k kernel code, 2796k reserved, 279k data, 120k init, 0k highmem)

[dl9sec]

Kleines Tutorial von mir zu dem Thema WL-HDD und Ram!
Viel Vergnügen!
...
Cheers,
B.Sandman
Hi there,

you did a really great job with that!

As i saw your little tutorial, i decided to pimp my WL-HDD too :D.
Actually i found a MT48LC8M32B2P-6 from Micron in my Shack which should do the job. A bit faster, but i think that should not be amiss. Or are there other opinions? Do i have to consider any specials choosing the SDRAM?

One thing is a bit mysterious for me, the "nvram set sdram_..." command(s). I searched the forum for a more detailed explanation of what happens with the different parameters, but i couldn't find. Maybe someone can explain what it means, when my WL-HDD shows:


sdram_config=0x0000
sdram_refresh=0x8040
sdram_ncdl=0x00000000
sdram_init=0x0419

And especially what happens if i change one of these parameters.
Will that "nvram set sdram_init=0x0C19" will work for my new SDRAM too or do i have to change even a bit more? :confused:

Some hints about that would be really great.
Thanks in advance.

Regards, Thorsten

[dl9sec]

Hi there,

i succesfully upgraded my WL-HDD and have now 32MB of RAM activated.
The MT48LC8M32B2P-6 from Micron seems to work very well. memtest reports no errors and the systems is running perfectly. Actually i only changed "sdram_init" from 0x0419 to 0x0C19.

Regards, Thorsten